The NICMASS system met an untimely demise in the Mt. Stromlo
wildfire in 2003. Built as a utility infrared imager, it contained
a NICMOS3 256x256 HgCdTe array behind a 12 position filter wheel with
no other internal optics and minimal baffling. It saw use as an imager
at the MDM 2.4 and 1.3-meter telescopes and at the 0.4-meter
Whately Observatory telescope in western Massachusetts. It's most
productive role was as a focal
plane for the KPNO Coude Feed telescope where it provided R=7200
spectroscopy across the 1.61-1.65um wavelength range. It's life ended
in a similar Coude Feed application at Mt. Stromlo after 10 productive years.

The NICMASS system

NICMASS drive electronics. Designed and fabricated by undergraduate Ron Coutu

The focal plane configuration.

A compact filter wheel design permitting the insertion of 12 filters into a 4.5-inch diameter.

NICMASS after the Mt. Stromlo fire.

Click here to see the original NICMASS web pages, and here to see the original
web pages for the Five College Whately Observatory.